DeGroot stated case of bankruptcy filings demonstrated Visser’s organization owed around $800,000 to about twelve members of Maranatha or her companies, such as the Thompsons. DeGroot in addition provided documents of Thompson’s loans to Visser’s companies.
Thompson mentioned as he knew that Visser wasn’t planning spend your straight back, the guy submitted case against Visser and also the church to recoup their cash. (Thompson mentioned his attorney advised suing for $one million because plaintiffs typically see 50 % of the things they inquire and Thompson would also happen legal fees.)
Thompson included that he and Visser never achieved funds as Zacharias’ match alleged. Alternatively, Thompson stated he fell the match because Visser gone bankrupt.
Thompson stated he could have however pursued the suit resistant to the chapel plus the denomination. But rather, the guy and Lori Anne chose to run in the CRC denomination to try to deliver accountability.
a€?Significant Investment Distressa€?
Both Brad Thompson and Ian deGroot chuckled while I asked if Thompson was in a€?significant monetary distressa€? after their alleged a€?settlementa€? with his pastor, as Zacharias’ suit alleges.
Similarly, Tamara Battiste, Lori Anne Thompson’s sister, said: a€?Thompson is actually a millionaire . . . They don’t wanted money. They’ve got never needed cash.a€?
Taxation statements the Thompsons gave demonstrate that from 2010-2017, the Thompsons produced between $193,000-$552,000 each one of those age. In 2017-the 12 months the Thompsons delivered the need letter to Zacharias- the couple generated $443,000.
The happy couple also gave amply to charities and ministries during those ages. In 2015, the Thompsons contributed significantly more than $102,000 to foundation. In 2016 and 2017, the happy couple donated about $50,000/year to charity.
James look, Chief Executive Officer of UCB Canada-the largest Christian broadcasting system in Canada-said Brad Thompson was actually certainly UCB Canada’s biggest supporters before 2017.
Quest stated Thompson paid the airtime for Ravi Zacharias’ broadcast plan on UCB Canada. Search asserted that’s the reason why Thompson had been welcomed to sponsor a table at luncheon where Brad and Lori Anne fulfilled Zacharias.
Over the years, Hunt stated he is gotten to discover Thompson better and defined your as an a€?honorable guya€? and a€?someone of integrity.a€?
Precisely why the Requirements Letter?
a€?As Lori Anne and I also discovered more info helpful resources on predation and brushing while the level of sufferers that predators posses . . . we realized we’d a moral obligation, or a godly duty, prior to the Lord, to not do nothing,a€? Brad said.
Brad said the happy couple considered several options. One, ended up being going directly to the panel of Ravi Zacharias Foreign Ministries (RZIM). However, the couple easily ignored the idea simply because they believed Ravi Zacharias, their girlfriend, with his daughter, Sarah-who’s today President of RZIM-were all members of RZIM’s board.
RZIM don’t posts the labels of their panel users. But in 2014, when RZIM past released an IRS form 990, Zacharias, his girlfriend, with his daughter, Sarah, comprise about panel. We reached out over repeatedly to RZIM, inquiring who was simply on its board in 2017, but RZIM couldn’t respond to my matter.
Thompson said he and Lori Anne additionally regarded as going to the ny days or some other biggest book. Nevertheless the few decided against it because he mentioned they both are experiencing views of committing suicide and couldn’t handle individuals humiliation that could bring.
But the happy couple said they performed launch their own comments a number of bloggers since they happened to be positive word would not spread to their home town in Ontario.
However Thompson stated the guy and Lori Anne both thought the only method to make Zacharias simply take all of them severely were to submit the demand letter. He stated their lawyer, level Bryant, advised the $5 million figure while the pair reliable their view.